A tattoo is a permanent form of body art that has been practiced in many cultures around the world. Tattoos are often used to express one's personality, beliefs, and interests. However, not all tattoos are created equally. There are some things every person should consider before getting inked for life! We will discuss what distinguishes a good tattoo from a bad one so you can make an informed decision about whether or not it's right for you!
Saturation & Contrast
Contrast and saturation are important because they will emphasize the shapes of objects within your tattoos. This is what makes something stand out from the rest of the design. Similar colors have little contrast, making an object blend into the overall piece or look like a mistake. A good tattoo artist will always ensure that the saturation and contrast of their work make the shapes stand out.
Linework and Detail
Linework and detail can never be overemphasized in any art. The quality of the linework and the amount of detail define how realistic your tattoos will look upon completion. You want to ensure that your piece has minimal or no bleeding, which happens when colours mix on the skin instead of staying in their separate lines. If your tattoo artist doesn't spend enough time on your piece, your tattoos will look faded and less crisp. Also, blackwork (i.e., heavy blacks) can make a design pop like you wouldn't believe!
Clever Placement & Design
Placement is extremely important to the overall effect of tattoos. A bad placement can make your tattoos look plain, unimaginative, or unfinished. A good artist will spend time thinking about where the "sweet spot" in your design is located. They should figure out how to make your tattoo design look its best by figuring out what kind of motion it would create when you move and where gravity would pull at different sections of the piece.
Composition & Balance
Composition and balance are two closely related concepts that only the most experienced ink artists should even attempt to mess with. It's all about how you place things within your tattoos, so there is no dead space, asymmetry, or awkwardness. Your tattoos can have too much balance if it looks like something is missing or out of place. Not enough balance and you get an unfinished or bland design that looks like it could use something else to complete the piece. It's a very fine line that only the best tattoo artist should attempt to walk!
In conclusion, as you can see, there are a ton of things that make tattoos good and bad. If you want to get inked for life, make sure your artist is well-versed in all aspects of colour theory and design. This will guarantee the best outcome and help ensure your satisfaction with your new piece!